Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and 'ali Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and 'ali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $633 in Amwaj versus $813 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,926 in Amwaj versus $1,317 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,218 in Amwaj versus $1,821 in 'ali.

Living in Amwaj costs roughly 22% less than in 'ali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amwaj 53% lower, 'ali 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$6.56 BHD 2.47

-17.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 BHD 20.25

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.10 BHD 3.43

$5.28 BHD 1.99

72.35%

Cappuccino

$2.69 BHD 1.01

$5.42 BHD 2.04

-50.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$0.78 BHD 0.30

34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.37 BHD 0.14

72.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 BHD 3.04

$7.86 BHD 2.96

2.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.44 BHD 3.94

$10.77 BHD 4.06

-3.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 BHD 0.65

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

Eggs

$2.51 BHD 0.95

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.18 BHD 3.84

$7.86 BHD 2.96

29.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 BHD 1.98

$6.74 BHD 2.54

-21.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.47 BHD 6.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 BHD 1.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.89 BHD 1.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.85 BHD 10.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 BHD 0.21

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

$20.6K BHD 7,759

77.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$160 BHD 60.2

$121 BHD 45.67

31.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$27.33 BHD 10.30

-1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 BHD 25.46

$38.29 BHD 14.43

76.36%

Cinema Ticket

$10.64 BHD 4.01

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$395 BHD 149

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K BHD 4,925

$9,058 BHD 3,415

44.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 BHD 24.63

$45.39 BHD 17.11

43.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 BHD 24.86

$63.1 BHD 23.78

4.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 BHD 35.44

$83.6 BHD 31.53

12.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 BHD 44.18

$86.8 BHD 32.73

34.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 BHD 896

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,135 BHD 805

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,939 BHD 1,485

$3,723 BHD 1,404

5.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

8.56

-32.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amwaj: June 1, 2026

Last update for 'ali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Amwaj pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Amwaj vs 'ali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amwaj is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Amwaj pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 416% higher in 'ali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $633 per month in Amwaj versus $813 in 'ali – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Amwaj gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Amwaj and 'ali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Amwaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in 'ali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.